Shop front doors in London: single, double, automatic and sliding
The entrance door sets how customers enter your shop, how much of the window display stays visible and how the frontage works day to day. Our team has 30 years of experience in the industry, and we supply and fit single, double, automatic and sliding shop front doors across London and the rest of the UK. This guide explains the main door types and how to choose between them. Request a free quotation.
What is a shop front door?
A shop front door is the entrance door of a commercial premises, set within the shopfront frame alongside the glazing. It is fitted with a frame, a threshold and hardware to suit the opening. The door and the frontage are planned together, so the style, finish and opening match. For the glass around the door, see our guide to glass shopfronts.
Shop front door types at a glance
| Door type | How it works | Best suited to | Our example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single shop front door | One door leaf in the opening. | A narrower entrance or a unit with a modest frontage. | Aluminium single entrance door |
| Double shop front doors | Two door leaves opening together or separately. | A wider entrance with more customer traffic. | Double entrance doors |
| Automatic shop front doors | Doors that open and close without being pushed. | Entrances used by many customers, or by people carrying bags or pushing trolleys. | Automatic doors |
| Sliding shop front doors, single or double | Doors that move sideways along a track instead of swinging out. | Entrances where there is no room for a door to swing. | – |
Single shop front doors
A single door is the simplest entrance. It suits a narrower opening and keeps more of the frontage free for window display. The door position is agreed with you after the survey.
Double shop front doors
Double doors widen the entrance. They suit busier shops, and can give easier access for deliveries and larger items. The leaves can be set to open together or one at a time, as agreed with you.
Automatic shop front doors
Automatic doors open and close as people approach, so customers can enter without touching the door. They are often chosen where customers carry bags, use trolleys or push prams. See our automatic doors and our guide to automatic doors for commercial entrances.
Sliding shop front doors
Sliding doors move along a track instead of swinging open. They suit entrances where a swinging door would block the pavement or the shop floor. We supply single and double sliding doors.
Aluminium and timber doors
Our shop front doors are available in aluminium, and timber doors are available as part of our timber shopfronts. The frame finish and colour are something you choose together with us. See our guide to aluminium shopfronts and our timber shopfront door.
How to choose a shop front door
Start with the opening, then the customers:
- the width of the opening
- how many customers enter at busy times
- whether customers carry bags or push trolleys
- whether a door can swing out without blocking the pavement
- whether a roller shutter is planned over the entrance
- any landlord or planning requirements
Share photos and rough measurements with us, and we will recommend a door type.
Planning your entrance with the rest of the frontage
The door works best when it is planned with the glazing and the shutter. See our glass shop front styles and layouts and our guide to shop front shutters.
Planning and landlord consent
Replacing an entrance door can need planning permission, and your landlord may need to agree. Check both before ordering.
What affects the cost of a shop front door
Every shop front door is priced to its own specification, and the main factors are:
- the door type: single, double, automatic or sliding
- the size of the opening
- the frame material and finish
- the glazing around the door
- supply only, or supply and installation
Our aluminium single entrance door starts from £650 and our aluminium double entrance doors from £1,050, excluding VAT, based on a standard specification, with the final price confirmed after survey.
How a shop front door project works
- Give us details of the premises and send photos.
- We survey the opening and confirm the door type.
- The quotation sets out the door, frame, glazing, hardware and finish.
- We manufacture and fit the doors, or supply them only where that suits.
Emergency help at the shop front
24/7 emergency roller-shutter and shopfront glass repair and make-safe support is available nationwide. No specific response time is promised. See shopfront repair.
Request a free quotation
Get in touch with photos, rough measurements and the door type you have in mind, and we will talk through the next steps. Request a free quotation. See completed work in our projects gallery, or browse all shopfronts.
Shop front door questions
What types of shop front doors do you offer?
We offer single doors, double doors, automatic doors, and sliding doors in single and double versions.
Which is better for a shop, a single or a double door?
It depends on the width of the opening and how many customers enter at busy times. A single door suits a narrower entrance, and double doors suit a wider one. We agree the choice with you after the survey.
What are automatic shop front doors?
They open and close without being pushed, as customers approach.
When is a sliding door a good choice?
Where a swinging door would block the pavement or the shop floor.
Are your doors aluminium or timber?
Our shop front doors are available in aluminium, and timber doors are available as part of our timber shopfronts.
Can you supply only, or supply and install the doors?
Both options are available, depending on the project.
Do I need planning permission or my landlord's consent?
A change to the entrance may require one or both. Confirm with your landlord or local planning authority before ordering.
Where do you work?
We supply and install nationwide, from our workshop in London.
